Call for Papers

Important Dates

Call for Papers opens: February 18, 2014
Call for Papers closes: April 4, 2014
Notification to Authors: Early June
Terms are subject to change.

Submit proposals by completing a submission form on the Call for Papers (CFP) server at https://cfp.blackhat.com/. We strongly suggest that you submit earlier than later as the CFP will close early if sufficient quality submissions have been received. All applicants must ready and agree to the Call for Papers Submission Requirements prior to making a submission. All submissions must be received on or before April 4, 2014.

WHAT ARE THE BLACK HAT BRIEFINGS?

The Black Hat Briefings were created more than 16 years ago to provide computer security professionals a place to learn the very latest in information security risks, research, and trends. Presented by the brightest in the industry, the Briefings cover everything from critical information infrastructure to widely used enterprise computer systems to the latest InfoSec research & development and everything in between. These Briefings are vendor-neutral, allowing the presenters to speak candidly about the real problems and potential solutions across both the public and private sectors.

SESSION TYPES

SUBMISSION PROCESS & REQUIREMENTS

The original author(s) of a presentation must submit for the Call for Papers. Third parties such as PR firms or speaker representatives may not submit materials on behalf of a potential speaker or speaking team.

Black Hat does not accept product or vendor related pitches. If your presentation is a thinly veiled advertisement for a product or service your company is offering, please do not submit.

Submissions that highlight new research, tools, vulnerabilities, etc. are strongly encouraged and will also be given priority. Submissions that include White Papers will also be given priority.

Speakers may submit more than one proposal but each proposal must be submitted via a separate submission form.

Each submission must include detailed bibliographies acknowledging prior work in the space, distinguishing or highlighting how your presentation is different.

Individuals submitting a proposal will receive a “Your submission for Black Hat USA 2014 has been received” email notification generally within 48-72 hours of receipt of the submission. After selections have been completed, submitters will receive an email confirmation of acceptance or rejection.

Speakers will be contacted if there are any questions about their presentations. If your talk is accepted, you can continue to modify it up until the presentation due date, at which time it is frozen for the printed and other conference materials.

If you have any questions regarding your submission, please email them to cfp@blackhat.com. We ask that all persons who submit to the Call for Papers do not contact Review Board members individually regarding your submission.

REVIEW BOARD + CONTENT SELECTION

The Black Hat Review Board is comprised of 23 of the industry’s most credible and distinguished security professionals and thought leaders throughout various areas of the information security community. The Review Board advises Black Hat on its strategic direction, reviewing and programming conference content and providing unparalleled insight into the research community. You can find more information on the Review Board here: https://www.blackhat.com/review-board.html

Black Hat strives to deliver one of the most empirical content selection processes in the industry. All submissions are vetted thoroughly by the Black Hat Review Board. Each submission is reviewed for uniqueness, overall content expertise and accuracy before any selections are made. Through the course of this dynamic review process, Black Hat Review Board members will frequently ask researchers for clarity on any areas of question in their submissions – whether it be about the uniqueness or audacity of claims made. The best submissions come with academic-grade papers, proof-of-concept code and/or video demonstrations of the work done. Of note, Black Hat does not support pay-for-play Briefings. The Black Hat Briefings are and always have been independently selected based on quality of content and area of expertise rather than sponsorship.

SPEAKING REQUIREMENTS

Black Hat requires that submitted work has not been previously published elsewhere, or if it has, that Speakers have obtained permission for its publication by Black Hat and will promptly supply wording for crediting the original publication and copyright owner.

If you are going to announce or demonstrate a new tool as the primary focus of your talk, that tool must be made available to conference attendees via the Black Hat CD and/or website. All sources of information, software, etc. should be properly cited.

Attendees will expect to receive a copy of your presentation, a White Paper supporting your work, RFC's, and tools/code (if applicable). Presentations and White Papers should reference the tool(s), law(s), website(s), or publication(s) mentioned. This bibliography will greatly help attendees who wish to learn more about your subject, but are not sure where to start.

Black Hat expects Speakers to be available throughout the event to meet and mingle with attendees. Attendees want to meet the Speakers and ask questions. Please advise conference management of time constraints when submitting your materials.

Speakers can assume that the attendees already understand the basic concepts regarding your topic. For example, if you are talking about cryptography, assume that everyone knows the difference between public key vs. secret key algorithms. Black Hat is known as a technical security conference, and demands more detail from its Speakers.

OFFICIAL TERMS

By submitting via the Black Hat Call for Papers system, Speakers understand and agree to the Official Terms as detailed in this section and subsequent sections of this document.

By speaking at the Black Hat Briefings you are granting Black Hat permission to record, reproduce, distribute, advertise, and show your presentation including but not limited to http://www.blackhat.com, conference proceedings and materials, audio, video, printed and/or electronic ads, fliers, mailers, etc.

Full conference passes are given only to those who actively participate as Speakers on accepted presentations. Additional Speakers must be listed as a part of the submitted Call for Papers application prior to the close of the CFP.

Prospective Speakers should not directly reach out to any Black Hat Review Board members regarding the status of submissions or feedback.

Black Hat will provide one projector, one screen, one wired Ethernet connection and one wired microphone (if applicable) for the onsite presentation.

Speakers are responsible for providing all other necessary equipment, including laptops and machines for their presentation.

If the presentation is deemed to be a work of plagiarism or a blatant vendor pitch, Black Hat may revoke the Speaker’s honorarium and the Speaker will not be considered for future speaking opportunities.

Part of speaking at Black Hat requires understanding that our Speakers represent the brand and the community we love. All participants must work together to provide value to their fellow attendees, Speakers, corporate sponsors, as well as volunteers and staff at the show. Please act accordingly.

Black Hat reserves the right to change scheduled speaking times as necessary. While every effort will be made to honor assigned times, Speakers may be called upon to present at any time during the conference.

Black Hat reserves the right to rescind an accepted submission without reason.

If a submission included the release of a tool, Speakers will submit a working version of the tool for publication on the website and conference CD. **

July 1, 2014

If applicable, Speakers will submit updated/revised/edited versions of the presentation, white paper, and a copy of the tool(s) and/or code, and a reference to all of the tool(s), law(s), Web sites and/or publications referenced to at the end of the talk and as described in this CFP submission for publication on the Black Hat website. **

Open to previous Black Hat Speakers (Trainer or Briefings Speaker) or specifically invited to speak by Black Hat

Remuneration:

Speaking honorarium of $1,000 USD for one Speaker;

Coach-class round-trip airfare for one Speaker;

One hotel room for three nights for one Speaker and;

One Briefings pass per Speaker(s)

Briefings Workshop Speaker (120+ minute)

Criteria:

Open to Speakers who specifically applied to present a workshop

Remuneration:

Speaking honorarium of $1,000 USD per hour for one Speaker;

Coach-class round-trip airfare for one Speaker;

One hotel room for three nights for one Speaker and;

One Briefings pass per Speaker(s)

Sponsor Employed Speakers (60 minute)

Criteria:

Open to both new Speakers and previous Black Hat speakers

The presentation must not be a vendor pitch

Speaker must use the Black Hat provided slide template

Employer logo on two slides: Introduction and Biography

Employer's name will be used only in relation to work, demo, or tool and not used as a vendor pitch or product sale

If the Employer or Speaker do not agree and fail to meet the above or it is deemed that the talk is a vendor pitch, then the Speaker waives the right to any compensation for travel, accommodations, or honorarium

Remuneration:

Speaking honorarium for one Speaker ($500 USD for new Speakers, or $1,000 USD for returning Black Hat Speakers)

Coach-class round-trip airfare for one Speaker and;

One hotel room for three nights for one Speaker

AIR TRAVEL

Only coach class fares are eligible for reimbursement.

There is a cap of $1,000 USD on round trip itineraries for domestic travel and $1,300 USD for international travel.

There is a cap of $500 USD on one-way itineraries.

Speakers booking their own travel will provide Black Hat with the dates of arrival and departure by May 30, 2014.

Itinerary must be round trip with arrival to the venue city for the event.

Itinerary must be booked and receipt sent for reimbursement no later than May 30, 2014.

A valid receipt in the form of a travel agency issued air itinerary and/or ticket receipt with the airfare, itinerary, and date of purchase printed on it is required.

The purchaser of the airfare ticket must be the same as the person to be reimbursed.

Should the Speaker be unable to attend for any reason, the Speaker will reimburse Black Hat for non-refundable airfare if Black Hat assisted with travel arrangements.

LAND TRAVEL

Speakers choosing to travel by automobile to the conference will receive $0.56 per mile, round-trip, as reimbursement in accordance with UBM and IRS regulations.

Speakers traveling by rail or bus will be reimbursed for the cost of the ticket price and must provide a receipt.

There is a cap of $1,000 USD on round trip land based travel.
There is a cap of $500 USD on one-way land based itineraries.

Reimbursement will be for one form of travel to the conference; be it rail, bus, or air travel.

HOTELS AND MISCELLANOUS

Black Hat will pay for a single hotel room for up to three nights at an official conference hotel, limited to the nights of August 5, 6, and 7.

Luggage fees, transportation to and from the travel terminal(s) to the hotel/conference venue or travel from home/office to the travel terminal(s), or any additional expenses incurred will not be reimbursed.

Parking, taxi or shuttle service(s) surrounding the event will not be reimbursed.

Speakers will book their hotel through Black Hat’s official conference hotel booking system.

Speakers will be required to provide the hotel with a valid credit card upon check in to secure the room; Black Hat will not reimburse any additional costs incurred by the Speaker.

Black Hat will not reimburse or provide a per diem for meals.

New for 2014: In our continuing efforts to support our speakers and the academic community, Black Hat will provide 2 free student passes for each Briefing selected. Speakers will choose the students they wish to invite and those invited will need to meet our standard Academic Rate requirements in order to qualify for the free passes. Further details will be provided to speakers, subsequent to selection of their Briefings.

PAYMENT TERMS

Speakers will submit items by deadlines specified in the deadlines table; failure to do so may result in forfeiting all or part of the honorarium at Black Hat’s sole discretion.

Speakers understand that IRS tax form 1099 will be issued from UBM to individuals who have been paid to speak. The form will be sent to the address specified on the W8/W9.

The person listed as the primary speaker will be required to complete a tax form in order to be paid.

Non-US citizens must complete a W8 form and will be paid via wire transfer.

The name and address on the W8 tax form must match the beneficiary listed on the wire transfer where the payment will be sent.

Only one payment for both the honorarium and airfare will be made per presentation.

Additional Speakers will be fiscally and logistically responsible for their own travel and lodging arrangements, time spent traveling will not be reimbursed.

Black Hat will not split the payment of the honorarium or expenses amongst multiple Speakers.

Speakers who do not reside in the United States will be paid via bank wire transfer.

Speakers are responsible for providing accurate bank details; any transaction fees billed by the bank will be borne by the speaker.

Speakers will not seek reimbursement from Black Hat or UBM to cover banking fees.

Bank wire transactions will be reflected as UBM.

Speakers failing to provide travel receipts by the date listed in the deadline table will forfeit any claims for reimbursement.

Payment will be made net 45 from the receipt of the Black Hat required paperwork and presentation materials (W8/W9, receipts and payment/wire information). This is not negotiable.

Speakers failing to inform Black Hat of any changes to their address or wire information as provided to them by the date listed in the deadline table may result in a delay of up to 45 days in receiving payment from the date that Black Hat received a change of address.

A change of address must be accompanied by an updated tax form.

RESPONSIBLE DISCLOSURE

NOTE: If you have questions about the legal implications of your security research or presentation, consider contacting Electronic Frontier Foundation, a non-profit legal service organization, for a pro bono initial consultation by emailing info@eff.org.